Dr. Tom Higgs

Dr. Tom Norwood Higgs of Forrest City Arkansas passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2025, two weeks after celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by his family. Tom was born in Colt, Arkansas on September 14, 1925, to Thomas A .and Elizabeth Peevey Higgs. He received his early education in Colt and graduated from Forrest City High School in 1942, a year early so he could enlist in the U.S. Navy where he proudly served for three years. Following his military service, he attended the University of Arkansas where he received a business degree. Returning to Forrest City he met his wife, Clara Frances Hayden, on the dance floor that led to 73 years of marriage. After working as a cost engineer for two years, he changed his career path to dentistry. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis and practiced dentistry for 32 years in Forrest City. Working in his desired vocation, he was known as the "singing dentist". A man of strong faith, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Forrest City where he sang in the choir, was an active member of the Homer Towne's Sunday School class and helped count the weekly offering until he was 90 years old. He served on the board of The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. He became a Master Mason and was a proud member of the Shriners Hospital International. Wanting to improve his community, he joined Kiwanis Club and served as an Alderman for Ward 3 on the city council. Tom had a great love of sports, growing up playing baseball and later golf. He enjoyed watching any kind of sports and particularly liked to coach from afar. His favorite team was the Arkansas Razorbacks, showing his support by being a member of the Arkansas Booster Club for many years. He also enjoyed playing various games, - card games with his children, dominoes with friends, solving the daily crossword and Sudoku and watching Wheel of Fortune. A man of routine, he began his day by joining "The Coffee Group" who solved the problems of the world and kept up with the happenings of Forrest City. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Higgs, his sisters, Laverne Robertson and Rosamond Howington and his brother, Jerry Higgs. Tom is survived by his wife, Clara Hayden Higgs; his son, William (Bill) N. Higgs (Sue); his daughter, Mary Ann Gammill (Ted). He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Leah Pierce (Marc), Taylor Gammill (Marly), Parker Higgs (Ginsie), James Gammill, Jenny Ward (Tanner) and Jackson Gammill. He had the privilege of knowing his seven great-grandchildren, Ethan, Ansley, Harper, Bo, Hayden, George and Sloane. Visitation will be at 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. Monday, October 6th, at the First United Methodist Church with the Celebration of Life service at 2:00 p.m. Following the burial, all are invited to a reception at the First United Methodist's Parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The First United Methodist Church of Forrest City, 101 S. Izard, Forrest City, AR 72335 The family would like to offer special thanks to Arkansas Hospice, Elder Independence Home Care and Fox Ridge Chenal for their loving care.